An Aunt who has the heart of an entrepreneur, just like my Mama, invited me in a small talk and presentation of the new business she ventured. Attendees were introduced to iFern. Tommanny Tan, President and CEO, is the man behind of it all. He is also a mentor or called “Kapatid” in the Go Negosyo and Department of Trade and Industry’s Kapatid: Mentor ME (Micro Entrepreneur) Program. iFern is FERN’s international Network Marketing wing is on the rise and has penetrated the network marketing industry with the launch of world-class quality products such as Fern-D and Fern Active.

Fern-D (Image from i-fern website)

Fern-D is a brand name for Vitamin D3 or the generic name Cholecalciferol. An affordable and clinically-proven Vitamin D supplement. Study shows that a person with enough or with high levels of vitamin D has lower risks on having diseases like muscle weakness, tuberculosis, diabetes and a few more.

Fern-Activ (Image from i-fern website)

Fern-Activ on the other hand is packed with B-vitamins and also contains non-acidic vitamin C for improved immunity, Zinc for energy and vitamin D for stronger muscles.

Personally, I was drawn into the health benefits of the said Fern-D and Fern Activ but big yes to the Aurora soap and lotion.

Aurora (Image from i-fern website)

Aurora beauty bar has three age-defying ingredients which are Argan Oil, Swiss Apple Stem Cell and Aloe Vera. It is so fragrant too and said to help prevent mosquito bites. Aurora Beauty Bar leaves skin whiter, smoother, lighter and moisturized. It also helps diminish age spots, hyper-pigmentation, Melasma and the very common skin problem, acne.

My aunt, a senior citizen who doesn’t look like one in fact, is already a distributor since September last year and has personally proved the health benefits of Fern-D and Aurora Beauty Bar on her. Aside from the speaker, there were also other entrepreneurs my aunt has invited to give more details on the marketing side of the company. So, when I got home, I have Fern-D, Fern-Active, Aurora Beauty Bar and Aurora Hand and Body Lotion. I got invited too to venture in the iFern entrepreneurship opportunity they have but will have to test these products myself first and then decide if I have to also join or just help my Aunt in her business. After a month of usage, I will sure make another review post about these new products she introduced me to.

Imagine the excitement of people world wide as they have anticipated this unusual phenomenon; A Super moon, Blue moon and a total lunar eclipse rolled into one – the Super Blue Blood Moon.

A Super moon is said to be a full moon which has a closer distance to the Earth’s orbit which makes it appear a LOT larger. And since it is closer to the Earth, it illuminates brighter. The Blue moon on the other hand refers to the “second” full moon of the month.

When I learned from the news about this Super Blue Blood Moon phenomena, I decided to let the girls experience witnessing it a little special. I know our phones would definitely not give us the best capture of the moon, so a telescope viewing would be perfect. Glad that I have searched for places where we can have it experienced – see the moon a lot closer than from the Earth’s ground. Roey and I went to SM City North EDSA and met up K there. We arrived exactly when K’s class is dismissed. We saw the full moon, yes, but there was not much happening yet and so we decided to eat dinner at the Burger King first. And as soon as we are done, we joined the people at the Sky Gardens as they have formed lines and took turns in using several telescopes brought and set up by student volunteers from different universities in Metro Manila.

People exclaimed their delights as the eclipse started happening. We were then almost at the half of the line. K and I kept clicking our phone cameras to get a good shot we can compile and keep as remembrance of the event and, of course, our bonding. Roey too used her phone (that she only uses for Minecraft) to take photos of the moon – even if it has a very low quality, and gladly shared it to her classmates (using my phone’s data connection). The photo above is a screenshot of K’s captured images of the moon. The good ones are shots of her OPPO A71 phone through the telescope and the others are of the same phone directly from where we stood while waiting for our turn. I, too had few shots which one I have shared in my Instagram account already.

This is our photo as the lunar eclipse happened and as we finished our turn at the free telescope viewing. I am but glad to have experienced this with my girls. We all learned a lot too – about the phenomena, and about patience. Since their Dad is still on his way home from work, all we can do is relay to him our experience and how beautiful the moon was through the telescope. We had to meet him at the Trinoma past 9pm when the moon has fully changed its color. That, he got to witness.

Source: Wikipedia (Totality from California)

This photo clearly shows how the moon looked like last night as the Super Blue Blood Moon happened. And there were many other beautiful and captivating shots of the Super Blue Blood Moon all over the internet, from different parts of the world and in different social media platforms.

Katarina Sonja Rodriguez is a stunning 24 year old athlete-turned-model-turned-beauty queen. She finished Philosophy and Business Administration at the De La Salle University. Fans loved her when she represented the Philippines alongside Jodilly Pendre in the second season of Asia’s Next Top Model. She was a runner-up in the said reality show.

In an interview, she mentioned that she has decided to join Bb. Pilipinas as fans and friends would always ask her to enter the pageant world. It was a little later when she realized that she too has gained interest in it and realized that it could be a platform where she can campaign and continue on her advocacy in life. She took to her Instagram account the said advocacy on being healthy and fit which also pushes the #SaveSexy campaign that promotes HIV/AIDS awareness. She once said that “My family has taught me to work hard and well for everything I want and need, and once you have excess, they’d say, you extend a helping hand to those who have less. I have worked hard to have enough for myself and a little more to give back.”

After having been crowned as 2017 Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental, Katarina had to clear the confusion that she is not accepting her crown. She had asked the public to stop making assumptions and said it is not true and that she is sleeping with her Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental crown. For which has led her to excelling in her training up to her representing the Philippines in the recently concluded Miss Intercontinental which was held at the SUNRISE Garden Beach Resort in Hurghada, Egypt.

A post shared by KATARINA (@katarinarodri) on Jan 21, 2018 at 6:25am PST

During the pageant’s finals night, Katarina Rodriguez was declared as Miss Intercontinental Asia and Oceania as she placed third in the online voting of the pageant. So, her plea for support in the photo above that she posted in Instagram resulted positively.

During the Q&A, Katarina was asked as to what is the most important thing she learned in joining Miss Intercontinental. Her answer was “The most important thing that I have learned in joining Miss Intercontinental is an Arabic word named after one of the Sunrise Resorts and that is Meraki. It means to do all things with passion, soul, and creativity. When I heard this word and its definition, it resonated with me until now and I think it will for the rest of my life. Therefore, that is the most important thing I learned while participating at Miss Intercontinental. That is to do all things with soul, passion, and creativity.”

A post shared by KATARINA (@katarinarodri) on Jan 24, 2018 at 11:54pm PST

Katarina gracefully accepted ending the pageant as 1st runner-up. I personally think that the experiences, friendships and learning she gained by representing the Philippines has changed her and in her words, she “turned FULLY into a woman”. She actually has a beautiful message of love and congratulations she also posted in her Instagram account for the newly crowned Miss Intercontinental Veronica Salas Vallejo of Mexico.

We can definitely say that Katarina Rodriguez has represented our country so well and although we all wanted her to take home the crown and be the first Filipina to win the title, she is still a queen.

Late last Sunday night, the digitally restored version of one of the most memorable Pinoy hugot movies was aired. Both my girls know Jolina Magdangal as the Momshie they get to see hosting Magandang Buhay on weekday mornings and that made them a lot more interested with the movie. Again, it was aired past midnight already so I only allowed them to see the first few scenes. But does not include this scene recorded by my elder daughter’s friend…

Apparently, it was not just my daughters who actually wanted to stay up that late to see the movie. Jolina and Marvin’s movie was a hit during our teenage years in 1998 and it is still because of the relatable story. Bujoy (Jolina Magdangal) and Ned (Marvin Agustin) are childhood best friends who really treated each other like a family. It was only until they started to date other people when Ned realized he loves Bujoy who has long kept her love for her childhood friend. The realization then led to that particular scene above.

Millennials were shookt! Those who were “Friendzoned” sometime in their lives, especially! A lot were able to relate their own stories to other scenes too if not this one. Famous lines, photos and video clips from the movie has somehow trended in Twitter and on Instagram. Someone from IG even said: “2018 na pero yung kilig feels 1998 pa rin.” Instagram user “fkwlf2_“(I honestly like this best)posted a photo of a scene and captioned:

One great mistake that individuals can make is to delay on beginning an investment fund. This is most pertinent to young people who depend on their folks for monetary help. Mostly Millennials who are keeping up with the Y.O.L.O. attitude. Indeed, even the individuals who are as of now ready to take a shot along the edge do as such to have cash for particular spending needs instead of to have somewhat more cash to spare. We always hear people say that it is best to practice the “save before you spend” attitude. This can be practiced by students too. As soon as they get their allowance from their folks, they would already be able to set aside a little sum for their funds. Through time, the little amount they consistently spare will gather to a greater sum. This definitely take considerable measure of discipline to effectively pull off. These ought to be minor worries that ought to effortlessly be dismissed when the significance of setting up a reserve fund support is realized and achieved.

Little kids can start saving with spare coins. Older kids can already set up a bank savings account and practice saving up on a monthly basis. Cash gifts during birthdays and Christmas could be added to the savings as well. Disciplined savings should start at an early age until such time it turns into a habit…a good one in fact. I often hear my Mom when I was young saying that “Every cent is important as you will never have a hundred if you do not start with a peso.”

Financial needs today and in the future is something of certainty but its availability is not. Time is in favor for the Millennials, so while healthy and able, save for whatever financial need might come… NOW!

So what actually happened last 2017 with your goals? Did you focus on travel, relationship or financial goals? We’re you able to achieve what you have targeted? If not, fret not! You do not have to be hard on yourself because there are a lot of people (me included!) who did not perfectly achieved their goals for 2017. Good news is, it is a brand new year. We are all given the chance to start again, continue, add more goals and make new beginnings.

This new year, if we ended way below 100% achieving the goals we have set back then, then there has to be a different approach. New rules and terms has to be implemented. As they most people would say, change is necessary. Start with getting yourself a planner or an unused notebook to keep track of these goals. Might as well list down the goals in front and at the back of your planner. At the end of the year, you can easily check out which ones you have not yet achieved.

Sharing with you are some tips I got from a few financial planning seminars and training I have attended last year that you may want to try as well:

Write down your goals and their terms.

On paydays, pay yourself first.

Avail of a VUL insurance policy. (It is a good Medium to Long Term investment tool)

Eliminate your debt.

Cut down on the amount of TV time. (Unsubscribe to Netflix if you must!)

Turn your hobby into a small business.

Pack your lunch and avoid fast food.

Declutter and do a yard sale.

Avoid out of network ATM fees.

Stick to cash and stop using your debit or credit card if you have one.

Avoid items not in the grocery list.

Walk to work, carpool or take public transportation.

Go DIY (Cards, gifts, coffee and even repairs!)

Exercise and drink more water.

Grow your own veggies.

Quit smoking.

Balance your YOLO attitude.

Focus on your goals. (Eyes on the prize!)

There is no guarantee all these tips will actually help or have a massive effect in achieving your goals but trying them out will sure help YOU. When you become aware and become a lot more observant of your own attitude, then you have improved. You have matured. You become a better version of yourself. And, if you have shared the goals you have set to a family member or a friend, they have learned from you too. Achieving your goals became a happy process in the end, right?

Just keep going and trying for there is a ripple effect in everything. And remember, when you keep trying new things for you to achieve your goals, and you put your heart in it…there is no way you would not get it.

Here is my 2017’s Instagram Best Nine. I intentionally forgot to post my Best Nine of 2017 on Instagram. I get to be forgetful but aside from that, is that I am not quite impressed with the results. Ha!Ha! Kidding aside, I am indeed thankful for all the likes I received on these nine images I shared throughout they year 2017. Cheers to more beautiful captures this new year!

In all honesty, I was not really that active the whole of 2017 in IG. There were weeks that I did not even glance on posts of the people I follow. But I am really hoping to get back on track on IG sharing and also in blogging. I missed a lot in here! I am in need of reviewing and relearning… a LOT!

Eastern Summit Life Insurance Agency is looking for Part Time and Full Time individuals to become licensed Financial and Insurance Consultants. We need more hands to work with us in reaching out to more Filipinos and share with them the value of savings, investments and protection.

With this, we have exclusively prepared an AWESOME career preview for you.

When: November 11, 2017

Time: Registration starts at 1PM

Where: Mayuree Ballroom 1
Dusit Thani Hotel , Makati

Get to listen and learn from the premiere wealth and life coach, Mr. Chinkee Tan! Attend the session for FREE! And, be inspired as successful people in this career share their journey.

Pre-registration is required. Please comment or send a direct message.

Financially secure your child’s future.Finance the turning points in his/her life such as college education, graduation, business start-up and marriage.

In all honesty, there were a lot of debates about juvenile insurance. Indeed widely controversial at the start, but life insurance for children eventually gained acceptance, worldwide. In this fast-faced world of ours, a juvenile policy is also being considered as a form or part of a sound financial plan. An investment tool to be exact. Our kids have big dreams. Might as well start saving for their dreams….now!

Be there in every step of the way. Get to know more about juvenile insurance. Send me a message to schedule a face-to-face presentation of Pru Savings and understand how it benefits you and your child.

It is an innate nature of people (the want) to get rich, fast! But honestly, a lot of us too, has been blinded by a number of scams and investment companies. There were people who learned their lessons about investing, although there are still some being fooled until now. So, if you would not want to be blinded and scammed, read on.

Set clear investment goals — long-term goals to be exact. Keep in mind that “time in the market is more important than timing the market.”

Automate your savings (pay yourself first)

Know you risk profile – this is perfect when done with someone who knows more about investments.

Diversify – As you may have already heard, “Do not put all your eggs in one basket” as they say.

Be realistic – be honest with yourself too.

With your investment, ask yourself “do you need life insurance cover?” If you want your investment to be protected, protect yourself first. When you discuss with your advisor, be clear with your goals. It is okay to be very honest with them regarding your capacity, plans and needs. This way, they would be able to provide you a quality investment advise.